To consider and approve a temporary parking tariff offer at St Martins car park to support use of the car park and the HALO leisure pool which will promote healthy lifestyles to residents by encouraging use of the HALO centre.

To consider and approve a permanent tariff change to coach parking tariffs in Hereford.

To consider and approve the reallocation of city coach parking provision in Hereford to direct the coaches, in the main, to park at Merton Meadow car park.

To consider and approve the expenditure associated with the redesign of St Martins car park to reduce parking capacity for coaches and increase capacity for cars.

That:

(a)        a temporary parking tariff at St Martins 1 car park, as detailed in appendix 1, be implemented for a period of six months, subject to formal agreement of the receipt of a financial contribution from HALO; and

(b)        revised tariffs for coach parking in Hereford, as detailed in appendix 1, be approved; and

(c)        the redesign of St Martins car park and other works associated with signing coaches to Merton Meadow car park be approved at a cost of not more than £25k.

The purpose of this report is to outline activity within the Digital Strategy for the year that requires funds outside of the revenue budget, specifically from the ring-fenced reserve for IT.

The IT reserve was established to address future requirement and pressures within IT, knowing there would be demand going forward to keep pace with the opportunities and changing nature of digital services.

The 2018/9 reserves expenditure will enable progress to be made in a range of areas including upgrades and new systems to support the activity and programmes of the council.  To do this funds are not contained within the revenue budget.

That:

(a)  Up to £250k is used from the ring-fenced IT reserve for:

·         20 Laptops for new starters and 10 to replace damaged laptops

·         MS Exchange (eMail engine) and Websense (Website filtering) upgrades

·         MS Systems Centre Configuration Manager

·         Education Tracking 16-19 Year Old System

·         MS SQL Server (Databases) Upgrade

·         MS Sharepoint Upgrade

·         Implementation Costs; and

(b)  The assistant director corporate support be authorised to take all operational decisions necessary to allocate the funds and implement the recommendation above.

To approve the Herefordshire Autism Strategy 2019 - 2022

The autism strategy will:

a.     Set out the actions required to achieve improved life outcomes for people with autism by better access to services. Through strategic improvement the council and the Clinical Commissioning group (CCG) will make and or influence reasonable adjustments and workforce awareness, this will in turn lead to wider participation in the community and more fulfilling lives.

b.     Set out the outcomes required, resources and ownership against each priority. This will be supported by an action plan (appendix 1) which sets out the annual activity and the identified outcomes for children and adults with autism with the appropriate and available resources for groups of all ages.

c.      Act as a medium term framework for future delivery and alignment of universal services to ensure the needs of people with autism are appropriately met.

d.     Ensure that all commissioned activity across the council’s directorates and the CCG is aligned to the health and wellbeing blueprint for adult social care and with the NHS long term commitment to ensure reasonable adjustments are made in both primary and acute health settings and services.

That:

(a)       the Herefordshire Autism Strategy 2019 – 2022 be approved; and

(b)       the executive’s response to the recommendations of the children and young people scrutiny committee at appendix 4 be approved.

To review the progress of the corporate parenting strategy.

The Children and Social Work Act 2017, introduced a new duty on councils to have regard to the following corporate parenting principles when exercising their functions in relation to looked after children and young people;

·        to act in the best interests, and promote the physical and mental health and well-being, of those children and young people

·        to encourage those children and young people to express their views, wishes and feelings

·        to take into account the views, wishes and feelings of those children and young people

·        to help those children and young people gain access to, and make the best use of services provided by the local authority and its relevant partners

·        to promote high aspirations, and seek to secure the best outcomes, for those children and young people

·        for those children and young people to be safe, and for stability in their home lives, relationships and education or work; and

·        to prepare those children and young people for adulthood and independent living.

That:

(a)       the progress of the corporate parenting strategy as outlined at appendix 1 to this report be considered and cabinet set out any further actions to improve the delivery of the strategy; and

(b)       the executive’s response to the recommendation of the children and young peoples’ scrutiny committee at appendix 2 be approved.

To receive the outcome of the Ofsted inspection of services under the new Inspection of Local Authority Children Services (ILACS) framework, which was conducted between 4 June 2018 and 22 June 2018.

To consider the council's response to areas for improvement identified and to make any recommendations regarding the council's proposed submission to Ofsted and proposed actions to address the areas of improvement that have been identified.

The council is required to submit an action plan to Ofsted within 70 days of the publication of their report (which is 25 October 2018), outlining how the council intends to address each of the areas for improvement, the timescales for action to be undertaken, and the monitoring arrangements.

That:

(a)       cabinet  determine any additional actions it wishes to be taken to strengthen the draft action plan attached as appendix 2; and

(b)       subject to any revisions, the action plan be approved for submission to Ofsted by 25 October 2018.

The purpose of this report is to approve the expenditure of the 2018/19 accommodation capital budget on the council’s property assets to facilitate the delivery of savings by releasing higher cost rented property, enable more localised working, and to ensure buildings are safe and fit for purpose.

A summary of proposed change and expenditure is as follows:

·       £170k for alterations at 1a St. Owen Street, 33/35 Union Street, Nelson House and the Shirehall, Hereford to enable the relocation of Children’s Services from offices at Bath Street and deliver savings of circa. £120k per annum.

·       £135k for alterations to Multi-Agency Offices at Leominster, Ledbury and Friar Street Hereford to enable more localised working and service delivery.

·       £200k to provide additional emergency evacuation facilities at Plough Lane, Hereford to ensure the property is compliant and fit for future use.

In summary the expenditure is to enable a number of accommodation projects to be undertaken which are provided in the attached business case.

That:

(a)            alteration worksto the following corporate properties be approved:

·       1A St. Owen Street Hereford: £105k

·       33/35 Union Street Hereford:  £20k

·       Nelson House, Hereford: £25k

·       Shirehall, Hereford: £20k

·       Friar Street, Hereford: £30k

·       Leominster MAO: £90k

·       Ledbury MAO: £15k

·       Plough Lane, Hereford: £200k

(b)        the chief finance officer be authorised to take all operational decisions to implement recommendation (a).

To approve the approach to recommissioning of a domestic abuse support service and the outline of a new Domestic Abuse Strategy for Herefordshire.

The commissioned domestic abuse support service provided by West Mercia Women's Aid is due to conclude in March 2019. This report details the intention to commission a redesigned domestic abuse service from April 2019 and provides an outline of the revised domestic abuse strategy for Herefordshire.

A shared strategic vision and set of priorities across agencies is required to tackle the root causes and consequences of domestic abuse, which is a complex, pan-organisational challenge. Within this, specialist services for victims and their children who seek support is vital to minimise harm and maximise positive outcomes, focussed on safety, building resilience and empowerment. A commissioned service is required which prevents the needs of victims and their children from escalating. The service will provide a single point of contact and access to experienced professionals who understand the risks and challenges faced by victims, assisting them to locate the right services and information to meet their needs.

Prevention, early intervention and co-ordination of support is key to prevent the risk and level of need from escalating and ultimately costing more to organisations across the system.

That:

(a)   the proposed outline Joint Strategy for Domestic Abuse at appendix C be approved for the purposes of informing commissioning intentions;

(b)   a domestic abuse support service be commissioned for a period of up to five years from 1 April 2019 at a maximum value of £1.3m;  and 

(c)   the Director for Adults and Communities be authorised finalise the service specification and award contracts for domestic abuse support services within the agreed budget.

In light of the additional information provided by the complainant, the panel upheld the appeal and found that Councillor G Fielding, Cradley Parish Council had breached the code of conduct in:

·         Failing to recognise the need to declare an other interest which is item 11 of the Cradley code of conduct in an item of business in his authority where that business that might reasonably be regarded as affecting the wellbeing or financial standing of someone with whom you have a close association;

·         Failing to uphold the general principles of the code of conduct for Cradley Parish Council

The recommendation to the Cradley Parish Council is that Councillor Fielding be given training on the code of conduct.    The training to be undertaken by the monitoring officer of Herefordshire Council. 

Summary of exempt proceedings.

Following a full discussion of the complaint which included information provided via confidential papers and verbally from the subject member and the complainant.  

The panel commented that Councillor Kenyon was not the only councillor on the planning and regulatory committee who may have had a close personal association with the person concerned.    Councillor Kenyon’s association only came to light because of his open behaviour in discussing their shared charitable interests.   The panel stressed that there was no “inappropriate contact” but felt that the term within the planning code did need to be clearly defined for the benefit of all councillors.   The panel also felt that the term “close personal association” contained with the code of conduct also needed to be clearly defined, again for the benefit of all councillors.   

The panel made the following recommendations on the issues raised in this complaint.:

RESOLVED

THAT

·         Guidance as to what close personal association (contained within the Herefordshire Council Code of Conduct) needs to be provided by officers so that all councillors were aware

·         Guidance as to what inappropriate contact (contained within the Herefordshire Council planning code) to be provided by officers so that all councillors were aware.

·         it is made clear to anyone subject to a code of conduct complaint, what the process is, rules, and possible outcomes.

·         officers make improvements in the process for collecting evidence on complaints.

·         the chairperson for this panel write to all Herefordshire Council chairpersons and in particular to the chairperson of Planning and Regulatory Committee drawing attention to the need to declare interests where appropriate.

DECISION

The panel upheld the decision of the deputy monitoring officer and found that Councillor J Kenyon, Herefordshire Council, had breached standard B1 in the code of conduct in failing to declare and resolve his interests in accordance with the law and provisions of this code of conduct.

REASONS

The reasons were based on the fact that Cllr Kenyon:

·         had described the person as a  friend; and

·         was involved in the charities he supported when mayor

The sanction of this panel is that Councillor Kenyon receive advice from the monitoring officer to improve understanding of when interests can arise and when to declare them.

To authorise the replacement of a double mobile with permanent build accommodation at Almeley Primary School.

Almeley Primary School is rated as a Good school by Ofsted and has been consistently admitting children up to its planned admission number.

Funding has been identified in the council’s capital programme to enable the replacement of mobile accommodation with permanent build.

The scheme will provide replacement accommodation for two classrooms with associated support spaces and will remove the last of the mobile accommodation from site.

That:

(a)        The replacement of a double mobile with permanent build accommodation be authorised at a cost of no more than £450k; and

(b)        The assistant director education development and skills (interim) be authorised to take all operational decisions necessary to implement the above recommendation within the approved budget including award of contract.

To approve additional expenditure for the installation of energy efficient (LED) lighting at Unit 3 depot at Thorn Business Park in order to reduce energy and maintenance costs in addition to reducing carbon emissions.

That:

a)    An additional £30,000 is approved for the installation of LED lighting at Unit 3; and

b)    The Energy & Active Travel Manager be authorised to take all operational decisions necessary to implement the above recommendation within the approved budget and in accordance with contract procedure rules.

On 13 July 2018 the council resolved that: the executive be asked to consider putting in place suitable controls to restrict parking on grass verges and pathways, including the introduction of by-laws.

The purpose of this report is to determine the executive’s response to the above resolution.

Having considered the provision afforded by relevant legislation:

·       If the matter to be addressed relates to regular and sustained careless parking at particular locations, then the most appropriate means of control will be through the introduction of a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO), which can be enforced by the Council’s Civil Enforcement officers.

·       If the matter relates to occasional damage by a particular individual, or individuals, at a particular location, then the use of the provisions in the Highways Act 1980 may be the most appropriate means of control.

·       Given the existence of the above provisions in law, it is considered unlikely that the Secretary of State will decide to take forward any application for a bylaw to address an issue with parking on verges and footways unless it can be demonstrated that such matters cannot be addressed through TROs or the existing provisions under the Highways Act 1980 or any other relevant legislation.

That:  all members be advised of the existing provisions for the introduction of Traffic Regulation Orders for the control of parking at particular locations, which provide the most efficient and lawful means by which any sustained parking issue associated with careless parking can be considered.

To make the Wellington Heath neighbourhood development plan as part of the statutory development plan for Herefordshire and approve the consequential updates to the countywide policies maps.

To fulfil the legal duty to make /adopt the Wellington Heath neighbourhood development plan and update the countywide policies map as part of the statutory development plan for Herefordshire. Council delegated authority for the making of the neighbourhood development plans, and consequential amendments to the countywide policies map, to the cabinet member infrastructure.

That:

(a)       The Wellington Heath neighbourhood development plan is made as part of the statutory development plan for Herefordshire; and

(b)       The required consequential changes are made to the countywide policies map

To seek approval for the relaunch of the existing Herefordshire Public Green Spaces Community Grant scheme.

The grant supports Herefordshire Council’s aim to dispose of non-strategic assets.  This small and limited fund will support Town and Parish Councils in Herefordshire to have an opportunity to demonstrate that they have the ability to maintain and enhance a green space with the view to a long term asset transfer.  The scheme supports projects that have community involvement and impact.  Where a lengthsman scheme is in place this grant will aim to provide complementary opportunity. 

That:

(a)        the public green spaces community grant scheme as detailed at appendix A be approved with a non-recurring scheme budget of £21k; and

(b)        the Director for environment and place  be authorised to determine grants in accordance with the scheme criteria and having regard to the  recommendations of the established panel

To make the Wyeside Group neighbourhood development plan as part of the statutory development plan for Herefordshire and approve the consequential updates to the countywide policies maps.

To fulfil the legal duty to make /adopt the Wyeside Group neighbourhood development plan and update the countywide policies map as part of the statutory development plan for Herefordshire. Council delegated authority for the making of the neighbourhood development plans, and consequential amendments to the countywide policies map, to the cabinet member infrastructure.

That:

(a)       The Wyeside Group neighbourhood development plan is made as part of the statutory development plan for Herefordshire; and

(b)       The required consequential changes are made to the countywide policies map

The application was approved in accordance with the Case Officer’s recommendation.

The application was approved in accordance with the Case Officer’s recommendation, with an additional informative.

The Committee deferred consideration of the application.

That:

(a)  To procure a replacement print contract for a period of up to five years at a maximum cost of £305,000 per annum, via Crown Commercial Services Framework RM3781; and

(b)  the Assistant Director Communities be authorised to award a contract.